Characterizing the kashruth situation as “loose and chaotic,” William Weiss, chairman of the committee on kashruth appointed by Aldermanic President Deutsch, declared at a conference yesterday morning at the Jewish Center, that the “Jewish public is dismayed and disheartened at the existing laxity of enforcement and supervision.”
Mr. Weiss estimated that there are about 10.000 food manufacturers and dealers of kosher products in New York, with an estimated annual turnover of $200.000.000. Listing the violations of the kashruth regulations, he declared, “in many instances hechsherim (kosher certificates) are sold for a consideration and without any further attempt at supervision. Where there is supervision, in most instances the supervisor is paid directly by the employer, which is wrong in principle. Kosher signs are displayed where there is no supervision. Unscrupulous merchants by various tricks and devices and inscriptions also label or call their products kosher without anyone to analyze or check up on the ingredients, which may be impure or improper for use in Jewish homes.”
Among those present at the conference were Louis Lande, representing Mr. Deutsch, Arthur Simon and Sidney Rosenwasser, representing the Department of Health. Seventeen members of the committee, representing eleven Jewish organizations, were also present. Another meeting will be held on Thursday, Mr. Weiss announced.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
